Automatic railway signal



May 17, 1927;

R. GROSS \AUTOIIKII'IC RAILWAY SIGNAL Filed Jan. 14. 1926 avwentoi @4 a35 M fluo'm w Patented May 17, 1927.

3515M OFFICE.

sa e eaoss. or BUFFALO, NEW Yoax.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Application filed January 14, 1926. Serial o. 81,138.

This invention relates to railroad signalingapparatus and has a one ofits objectsto provide an electrically controlled device actuated bymeans carried on the locomotive to move a semaphore arm at the roadsidein advanceot an approaching train.

Another object is to provide a colored signal light within the cab of alocomotive, these lights being controlled by the same cur rent and whichindicate the entrance and exit of the train from the signal zone, thesesignals being visible to an engineer irrespective of darkness.

A further object is to provide a mechanically operated register, alsounder the control of the same current, and having a recording meansactuated thereby.

Another object is to provide such apparatus in the form of a smallcompact attachment readily applied to a locomotive cab without anymaterial change therein and without interference with the usualparaphernalia contained therein.

These several objects are attained by the novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter described and shown in theannexeddrawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventionallocomotive as operating on a track, and illustrating the application ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the control box, mechanismtherein and semaphore mast with arm, the section being taken on line2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view taken in a plane at right angles toFigure 2 on line 3---3 thereof.

In the drawing, the numeral ll) designates the road bed or trackwaysupplied with rails on which there is a locomotive 11., shown as advancing towards a signal mast .12 having an arm 13 of the usual typepivoted near its top.

The arm is movable by an arm 14, entering a switch box 15 secured to themast, and connected to a slotted lever 16 pivoted at 17, this pivotbeing the terminal for a conductor 18 leading from any convenient sourceof electrical supply.

The lever 16 may be actuated by any of the usual trackside signalcontrol devices, not shown, and is adapted to engage either of twocontacts 19 and 20 within the box 15.

Alongside the trackway are masts 21 having re'entrantly bent springloops 22 at their upper ends, the downturned portion of these loopsbeing uniformly directed towards the rails and provided with spacedinsulators for carrying rods 23 and 24, connected by conductors 25 and26 with the contacts 19 and 20.

A hollow casing 27 having a transparent front 28 is secured in the cabof the locomotive closely adjacent its wall 11 and mounted on the outerside of thewall 11' are a pair of bowed spring contractors 29 and 30adapted to make wiping contact respectively with the rods 23 and 24.

A small electro-motor 31 is mounted in the casing 27 the same beingbolted to a transverse partition 32 in the lower part of the casing,this motor driving a reducing gear train 33, the last gear of which isfixed on a spindle 34 mounted in the casing.

Fixed on the spindle is a drum to wind a blank strip of paper 36 actingas a register, the blank being wound from another drum 37 mounted on aspindle near the top of the casing.

A pair of styli 38 and 39 are pivoted on a rod 40, each beingcounterbalai'lced by a a weight 41, and carried by the styli arearmatures 42 and 43, respectively operated by electromagnets 44 and 45carried on the partition 32.

On top of the casin are light signals 46 and 47, respectively red andgreen and these, together with the electromagnets -14 and 45, and motor3]., are wired to receive. current from the main conductor 48, asconveyed by the rails 10, through the bodv ot the locomotive to thecasing 27. i

The wiring is so a rrailged that when the seina ihore arm is in alowered position as to convey current from the co'mhlctor 1R, lever .16,contact 19, conductor 25, and rod 23, to the conductor 29 and thence tothe lamp 47, motor 3], electromagnet 45 and ground 48.

\Vhen the motor is energized, the paper strip 36 is slowly actuated andthe stylus 39 drawn into operative contact with it, re cording a lineequivalent to the duration of contact of the cont-actor 29 and rod 23.

When this contact becomes broken, the current is cut oil and the motorceases running; at the same time the green light ceases to display asignal.

In a similar manner, when the arm 13 is raised, current will flowthrough the lower rod 24:, contactor 30, lamp 46, electrornagnet til) 44and motor 31, causing the stylus 38 to record upon the strip 36, thusshowing the duration of the danger signal.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an efficient and practicalsignaling device has been disclosed, and that the same can be readilyand cheaply applied, acting as an auxiliary to present forms of signalsand assuring that attention will be called to the same.

Furthermore, the device presents a permanent record by Which the actionof the signals may be checked and assurance of safety supplied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with a trackwayhaving roadside signals including amovable semaphore arm and a locomotive, of masts arranged adjacent theroadside, spring arms on said masts, rods insulated from said springarms and extending contiguous to the path of the locomotive, contactorscarried by said locomotive to engage with said 2 rolled strip ofmaterial capable of receiving marks actuated by said drum, a pair ofelectromagnets in the casing, a stylus controlled by each magnet to markselectively on said strip, and means controlled by the position of saidsemaphore arm to energize said motor and selectively actuate the styli,said means also causing selective illul'nination of said lamps.

In Witness whereof I have allixed my signature.

GROSS, RALPH

